Transporting big dog in small car - how??

SlavOz on 08/07/2019 - 23:52

I have a Grey Hound who's tall as fudge. When he was a pup I could fit him in my Lancer as he could sit comfortably on the foot area on the passenger side. But now taking him anywhere is just a massive pain in the ass. He can fit inside the car, but the problem is there's nowhere for him to sit comfortably on a flat surface. If he was smart enough to position himself perfectly he could probably fit on the seat but it's not likely as he just slips off during turns or bumps anyway.

For vet trips I usually use a trailer or my work truck, but that's a pain in the ass too. Is there any way I can get him to fit securely and semi-comfortably inside my car? I've heard of the dog car harnesses but never looked into them and not sure how, if at all, they actually work?

Pets

Comments

  • Stewardo on 08/07/2019 - 23:59
    +1

    Why not buy a plastic dog crate? He can sit on the bottom.
    https://www.mypetwarehouse.com.au/k9-pet-carrier-large-airli…

  • ssquid on 08/07/2019 - 23:59
    +5

    Just hold a stick with a bit of fur on it out the window.

  • ChillBro on 09/07/2019 - 00:00
    +12

    Why not just ride the dog to your destinatiohn

    • kahn on 09/07/2019 - 00:34
      +3

      Just like an old episode of The Simpsons suggested: think of them as little horses.

  • Traveller107 on 09/07/2019 - 01:09
    +1

    Dog car harnesses work pretty well.. You can just put it on and adjust the harness to your liking and he can just laze around in the back seat through the ride. Try one and see how you go. I'd recommend them for short trips and for long just make sure you stop every few hours and take him out to stretch his legs and run a bit.

  • pantsparty on 09/07/2019 - 07:07
    +4

    Do you have roof racks?

  • holdenmg on 09/07/2019 - 09:39

    Use a Mobile Vet.

    Use a Pet Taxi.

    • Fergy1987 on 09/07/2019 - 09:54
      +1

      This - Mobile vets are way easier!

  • GordonR on 09/07/2019 - 09:40

    We use a dog hammock (google it) along with a harness that clips into the rear seat belt.

    Works well, dog is comfortably restrained, but not closed in, and we chuck a couple of chew toys in there, which are the only things he can reach.

    (This is for a guide dog puppy that we”re raising, so we are given all the right gear for every occasion.)

  • GG57 on 09/07/2019 - 09:50

    Are you saying that you take your dog in your car now without a restraint?
    I thought that was illegal?

    • BOGOF on 09/07/2019 - 10:07
      +1

      Not strictly. The rules prohibit a pet being in the driver’s area of a vehicle, specifically…..
      "an animal is causing the driver to be not in full control of the vehicle, or if they are driving with a dog on their lap"

  • one man clan on 09/07/2019 - 10:07

    Put him in the back seat, there should be plenty of room. It's safer too

  • Randxyz123 on 09/07/2019 - 10:09

    Time to get a mini SUV!

    Try a harness first though.

    I feel your pain though. I have a golden retriever who has no idea how to sit on the back seat of a sedan

    • holdenmg on 09/07/2019 - 10:11

      Throw the ball, throw the stick…

  • [Deactivated] on 09/07/2019 - 10:10

    Friends have a greyhound rescue & they speak highly of their greyhound adoption agency as a valuable resource for their many queries re: all-things-greyhound.

    Contact greyhound rescue group & they should be able to assist

  • brad1-8tsi on 09/07/2019 - 13:00

    One of our dogs is a full size poodle. It's as big as a greyhound. No probs at all in the back seat of a sml/medium car with a passenger as well.

    We have a pet hammock to stop him falling into the footwell and he wears a full chest harness attached by an adjustable tether to the seat belt buckle.

    He just lays down and chills.

    I thought you had to have a harness. The thought of 22kg of dog flying through the car in an accident terrifies me.

    • GG57 on 09/07/2019 - 13:11

      I thought the harness was mandatory as well, but BOGOF (above) has correctly clarified it is not.
      It is all good until something happens.

      • brad1-8tsi on 09/07/2019 - 13:15

        My GF used to transport her 2 small dogs without a harness. She lifted her game when I asked her if she kept a sharp knife in the glovebox.

        "No, why?" she asked.

        "How else are you going to humanely dispatch your dogs in the event of an accident and they smack through the windscreen."

  • Strahany on 09/07/2019 - 13:59

    Kmart has a dog hammock which laws over the back seat, anchoring on 4 head rests. Costs under $20 and can be pulled taut such that they won’t fall into the footwell.

    • brad1-8tsi on 09/07/2019 - 14:54

      kmart also has good value harnesses and tethers

  • coin saver on 09/07/2019 - 16:43

    A couple of my friends have their dogs trained to get in thru the boot and then place the forward part of their body thru the folded down rear seat.

  • SlavOz on 09/07/2019 - 20:26

    Thanks peeps. I'm going to try the hammock and or harness, though knowing my dog hell find a way to screw it up for sure. He just doesn't understand the concept of a car seat. He's a 35kg dog so I'm still skeptical whether hell be able to fit well on the seat.

    • Randxyz123 on 09/07/2019 - 22:12

      Classic greyhound lol

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